But what does this exactly mean?

Summertime is when smog becomes a major health problem here in the Bay and for the past 20 years the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, or  BAAQMD, has managed the Spare the Air program to “educate people about air pollution and to encourage them to change their behavior to improve air quality.”

A layer of smog over Los Angeles. Photo credit: Andre Andreev

Between now and through October we are all urged to cut back on polluting activities like driving, using aerosol sprays or gas powered lawn mowers. On days where air quality is particularly bad, there will be “Spare the Air” smog alerts issued; those sensitive to unhealthy air are encouraged to limit outdoor time these days.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to breathe healthy air, you needn’t just cut back on activities that cause pollution, you can embrace environmentally friendly ones to help make this a cleaner summer and spare our air!

When it comes to transportation, 511 Contra Costa offers plenty of resources to help change habits for a cleaner air: walking and bicycling, public transit, or carpooling.

You can also download iSmog, an iPhone app that will send push notifications when the air quality in your area is unhealthy. The app allows you to customize when you would like to receive alerts and is free to download.

You can even plan a fantastic vacation while sparing the air thanks to offMetro SF!

If you want to stay informed about local air quality, or get involved to improve conditions, be sure to check out Spare the Air.

Spare the Air Employer Program invites you to a FREE webinar on Teleworking. Learn how teleworking can eliminate your employees’ commute, reduce emissions and improve your bottom-line!

When: Thursday, June 07, 2012
Time: 10:30 AM – 12 PM (Noon)

Presenter: Elham Shirazi, Telework Expert

Topics covered will include:

• The latest facts on teleworking
• Impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and emissions
• Case studies
• Implementation steps
• How to overcome objections at your workplace

Please RSVP by Friday, June 01, 2012

Click here to RSVP

For more information, contact Stephanie Anderson at sanderson@communityfocus.org or 510.763.2500.

Closures tentatively begin Monday night, May 14, and will tentatively occur nightly through Friday, May 18.

Monday, May 14 – Thursday, May 18

• Overnight Closure from Westbound Wilder Onramp to Bore 3 (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 9:30 PM – 4 AM
• Overnight Bore Three Closures (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 10 PM – 4 AM
• Overnight Closure from Westbound Fish Ranch Onramp (towards Oakland): 9 PM – 4 AM
• Overnight Bore Three Closures (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 10 PM – 4 AM

Friday, May 19 – Saturday, May 20

• Overnight Closure from Westbound Wilder Onramp to Bore 3 (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 10:30 PM – 7 AM
• Overnight Bore Three Closures (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 11 PM – 7 AM
• Overnight Closure from Westbound Fish Ranch Onramp (towards Oakland): Occurring nightly, 10 PM – 8 AM

In addition to the excavation of a 3,400-foot-long tunnel north of the existing three bores, the $391.8 million Caldecott Fourth Bore Project includes traffic improvements on the eastern and western sides of the tunnel.

For more information on the upcoming closures visit the Caldecott Tunnel Traffic Page.

Photo credit: Eric Broder Van Dyke

Transit is approaching record ridership numbers!

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports:

The boost in ridership comes as pain at the gas pump and the sluggish economic recovery combined with a migration of young adults to cities and new technology that makes transit faster and friendlier than in the past. The number of transit trips over a 12-month period will likely set a new record later this month or next, say Federal Transit Administration officials. The current peak is 10.3 billion trips over a year, set in December 2008.

For BART, the article notes the struggles of accommodating about 365,000 weekday trips this year (a record high!) while maintaining the 40-year old transit system. The article goes on to describe some of the inventive ways in which BART maintains cars with components no longer being manufactured.

Read the full article for an insightful look at peak transit ridership numbers.

A person ponders a home-made bicycle trailer

We happen to know it’s just one of many homemade trailers built by Richard Anderson of Martinez. You can check it out at his Richard’s BTWD Energizer Station: he’ll be at the Martinez Amtrak Station between 5:15-9:30 AM or at the foot of the Martinez/Benicia Bridge (on the Martinez side) from 3:30-6:30 PM .

Photo credit: Contra Costa Times

Bike to Work Day is almost here!

Lucky you – Chipotle wants to reward you for your efforts in staying healthy and helping to conserve our environment. The full text of their Bike to Work Day promotion reads:

“Stop by your local Energizer Station to pick up your Bike to Work Day reusable canvas bag, and show your bag at any Bay Area Chipotle on Bike To Work Day, May 10th, to get a Buy-One/Get-One-Free on Burritos, Bowls, Salads or Tacos. (One per person, please). Visit www.chipotle.com if you want to learn more about how Chipotle strives to help our environment every day.”

Photo credit: Mike Saechang

photo credit: Marc van Woudenberg

…Thursday, May 10th, is Bike to Work Day!

If you’ve been contemplating bicycling to work but felt unsure about the idea, rest assured you will not be cycling alone if you decide to participate in Bike to Work Day. You will likely encounter more cyclists along your commute on Bike to Work Day than any other day of the year! Bike to Work Day is the perfect day to pick up cycling – even if only for the occasion– and give it a try with thousands of other Bay Area residents.

Not only can you take comfort in safety in numbers, but you can take advantage of one of 200 “energizer stations” scattered throughout the Bay for the day. What is an energizer station? Simply put, a station providing free beverages, snacks, goodies and encouragement to bicyclists on this special day.

To see if there’s an energizer station anyone along your commute, check out the Bay Area Energizer Station map– from Pittsburg, to San Pablo, to El Cerrito, and San Ramon, Contra Costa County is well represented!

Of course, before you hop on your bike for the big day, it’ll be useful to review some basic road rules and safety procedures:

• Bicycles have the same responsibilities and rights as motorists, so obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic flow; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going. Most cities do not allow cycling on sidewalks although some exceptions do apply and some exceptions are made for youth.
• Be Predictable. Make your intentions clear to motorists and trail users. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you before turning or changing lanes. This is true for cycling on trails as well. The EBRPD asks that you ring or call out when approaching pedestrians.
• Be visible. Ride where drivers can see you. Use a front white light, red rear light and reflectors for night cycling or when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with drivers so you know they see you.
• Plan ahead. Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other bicyclists will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and utility covers. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.

Be sure to ride far away enough from parked cars to avoid having to maneuver around drivers swinging their car doors open. photo credit: Gary Kavanagh

• Equipment Check. Tires should be very firm, check that brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release wheel levers are closed. Carry repair and emergency supplies appropriate for your ride.

And if you’re cycling on the Iron Horse or Canal Trail, review the Iron Horse and Canal Trail Tips from the East Bay Regional Parks District:

• Speed. Bicycles shall not be ridden at an unsafe speed, or greater than the posted speed limit. Be aware of how you are perceived by other trail users.
• Bells are required on bicycles on Park District trails.
• Bicycles always yield to pedestrians. Before passing, SLOW DOWN, ring bell and establish verbal contact. Give plenty of space when passing and be sure to look ahead while passing to avoid on-coming collisions.
•  On blind turns, SLOW DOWN, call out, ring bell and ride single file.

(Note: Here’s a map of the Iron Horse Trail)

Once you know the rules, Bike to Work Day is ultimately about fun: be sure to get out there, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and embrace the experience of taking two wheels. And if you’re lucky, every day can be bike to work day – after all, it’s getting easier with solid-green bike lanes spreading across the Bay! Need added inspiration

Happy Cycling!

photo credit: Marc van Woudenberg

Races

VENTI: 100K (62 miles)

• Start Time: 7-8 am Cost: $30 Pre-Registration/$35 Day Of

5K Fun Run (3.2 miles)

• Start Time: 8 am Cost: $10 Pre-Registration/$15 Day Of (17 & under $5)

GRANDE: (24 miles)

• Start Time: 9-10 am Cost: $25 Pre-Registration/$30 Day Of

TALL: (8+ miles)

• Start Time: 10-11 am Cost: $10 Pre-Registration/$15 Day Of (Kids 15 & under FREE)

Check-in and Registration:

• Registration opens at 6:30 AM
• “Start” location: Starbucks Coffee, 2530 Sand Creek Rd., Brentwood, CA
• Register online